Love and hate in 100 years of two Turkish sporting giants

The centennial anniversary of Turkish sport’s biggest rivalry is being marked this weekend. Though no one really seems to care.

This Sunday will be the 100th anniversary of the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe football match on Jan. 9, 1909, but obviously, the football world does not find that interesting enough. Instead, the Turkish press uses fake transfer stories, the board members keep talking about how good the midseason was for their teams, and players will step on the pitch for the Fortis Turkish Cup games, worthy of exhibition games, after both teams won berths for the quarterfinals.

But really, isn’t the centennial anniversary of the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe rivalry worth celebrating? Wouldn’t it be a joy to see a special game at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, which is currently located where Papazın Çayırı, the venue of the first game, once was? Shouldn’t the Turkish clubs use this one single chance to hail their storied pasts, to commemorate late stars and celebrate the milestone of a century of love and hate? Apparently, the answer is no.

Seeing that both clubs have failed to come to terms with their joint history, Turkish football’s claims, that the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby is one of the most important rivalries in the world, fall desperately flat. Yes, we like to hype the Istanbul derby at any chance we get and adore using the term "derby of the century," but why is there a deafening silence when a real chance to prove this game’s worth comes along?

Unfortunately, both clubs seem to be too involved with the football season’s stuffed agenda that they do not want to allocate time for something from the past. More directly, the two sides are still unaware that there may not be a rivalry without one another. And without a rivalry, neither Galatasaray, nor Fenerbahçe can be as big as they are. They seem to forget that the main reason of their colossal greatness in Turkish sports completely depends on the existence of the other. The two are like black and white, Tom and Jerry or Batman and Joker. Their everlasting chase for the top spot is what makes it all worthwhile.

Frankly, the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe was never about being political, social, or economic. It was not religiously loaded as Scotland’s Old Firm, which is the Rangers-Celtic rivalry. It was not class-based as the River Plate-Boca Juniors in Argentina’s highly electrified "Super clasico." And it was never about the clash of two cultural identities, as in say "El Clasico," which stages an unstoppable enmity between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

But even the lack of this social base does not prevent the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe rivalry from at least making the list of one of the most ambitious challenges in Europe. If only the current players, board members and Turkish media could have appreciated that aptly.

Long live the Istanbul rivalry!

10 DERBY ENCOUNTERS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET

Remember the sixth of November
A ten-man Fenerbahçe destroys defending champion Galatasaray 6-0 at home on Nov. 6, 2002, much to the embarrassment of the visiting fans. Striker Serhat Akın’s comments are telling: "Our fans were screaming for the fifth goal and we found the sixth. They started to chant for the 10th, but there was not enough time." Six years on, Fenerbahçe fans still cannot get enough of making fun of their rivals about that night. "Remember, remember, the sixth of November," a clear play on the Guy Fawkes line that was used in the film "V For Vendetta," to name only one.

Victory blowing in the wind
Galatasaray was the dominant side during the early years and that dominance peaked on Feb. 12, 1911. Only seven players could make the crossing to Kadıköy due to heavy winds, but they were enough to win the game 7-0.

The greatest comeback
Galatasaray had the advantage of advancing to the next round in the Turkish Cup on May 3, 1989, a week after 2-2 draw at Fenerbahçe. The home team was off to a good start with three goals by Tanju Çolak in the first half, but Fener fought back to claim an amazing 4-3 win.

Counterattack heroes
Despite being in its centennial year, Galatasaray was not looking at its sharpest in 2005, but it cut like a knife on May 11, during the Turkish Cup final. Franck Ribery, who was on his fated path to stardom, orchestrated the Lions’ counterattacks, which led to a 5-1 win.

Metin Oktay's scorcher
It was one of the rare occasions when the first leg of a league final was more memorable than the second: Metin Oktay’s stunning goal made history after it tore through the net. Four days after, Fener would beat its rival 4-0, but the series would always be remembered for what the most spectacular Turkish striker did.

The flagman Souness
With minutes left in the overtime period of the Turkish Cup, an amazing shot by Dean Saunders won the Cup for Galatasaray at Kadıköy on April 5, 1996. But there was more to come. Coach Graeme Souness would take a giant Galatasaray flag and put in on the center of the pitch, driving home fans crazy.

A major twist
Back in March 2000, Galatasaray looked invincible. The Lions were on top form, eliminating some top European clubs on their way to the UEFA Cup. However, the plot had a major twist as Fener, who was 20 points behind, won the game with a Samuel Johnson free kick.

Watered down derby
On May 2007, Fenerbahçe was coming to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium as the champion. While Turkey was discussing whether Galatasaray would applaud its rival for congratulations, the home fans had a nasty surprise. Fener was welcomed by a constant rain of plastic bottles.

A decent proposal
Galatasaray was lacking some of its key players in Oct. 1914, then Fener captain Galip Kulaksızoğlu offered a fair deal: "We don’t want to play against a shorthanded side. Let’s play when they have recovered."

Highs, lows
70,125 people were at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium on Sep. 21, 2003, recording the highest attendance for the derby. And there were just 14 people watching the game Nov 1922.